One of Nissan Motor Co.’s top executives, José Muñoz, has resigned, the company said Friday, the first shake-up of the Japanese auto maker’s top management since the arrest of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Muñoz, who went on a leave of absence a week ago, was a close ally of Ghosn and oversaw business strategy for Nissan’s 7201, +0.86% seven regional and business units and had direct oversight of the company’s China operations.

His future had been in question following the Nov. 19 arrest of Ghosn in Japan and criticism from current Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, who had blamed the company’s recent profitability struggles on its U.S. strategy.

Muñoz, in a statement posted on LinkedIn and confirmed by his spokesman, said he would continue to assist Nissan in its investigation into alleged financial misconduct involving Ghosn and colleague Greg Kelly. Ghosn and Kelly have denied any wrongdoing.